september is childhood cancer month

On any given school day, 46 young people nationwide, or two classrooms of students, are diagnosed with cancer, and one of every 330 persons in the United States will develop cancer before their 20^th birthday. East Tennessee Children's Hospital and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation want to share with the community the importance of awareness and research about childhood cancer this September during National Childhood Cancer Month.

Each year, the National Childhood Cancer Foundation uses this month to increase awareness of childhood cancer, the life-saving benefits of research, and the important work that needs to be done to advance research, treatment, access to care, prevention and detection. This month also provides an opportunity to recognize childhood cancer patients, survivors, families and caregivers and honor those young people who have lost their lives to this disease.

According to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, more than 12,500 children and young adults are diagnosed with childhood cancer every year. Cancer is the second leading cause of childhood death; only accidents take more young lives. "We see and treat children with certain types of oncology that adults will not face," said Dr. Ray Pais, Pediatric Oncology Specialist at Children's Hospital. "Further research and increased community awareness is necessary to help the children who are diagnosed every day with cancer."

Childhood cancers are cancers that primarily affect children, teens and young adults. These cancers include retinoblastoma, which is a malignant eye tumor that occurs in infants and young children; leukemias, which are cancers of the bone marrow and tissues that make the blood cells; neuroblastoma, which arises in the adrenal glands, spreads very quickly, and is located in the abdominal area near the kidneys and along the sympathetic nerve chain in the chest and abdomen. Bone cancers, brain tumors, lymphomas, and other cancers affect both children and adults.

Cancer in childhood occurs regularly, randomly and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class or geographic region. Yet, according to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, cancer is the most curable chronic disease of childhood - more curable than asthma, congenital abnormalities, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis or diabetes.

Although little progress has been made in the prevention of childhood cancer, researchers are working daily to help fight against childhood cancers. Organizations such as the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society, and the Children's Oncology Group provide treatment, support services and research for the future of our children.

For more information on childhood cancers, call the Children's Hospital Community Relations Department at (865) 541-8165.